DERMOT McLoughlin has quickly become recognised as the trainer with a golden touch for landing Grand Nationals, and he will look to break new ground when Wa Wa bids to provide the trainer with a first winner in Sunday’s €50,000 Randox Ulster National Handicap Chase (4.00) at Downpatrick.

The back-to-back Irish Grand National-winning trainer has his string in terrific form, with seven winners from his 27 runners over jumps before Friday (26% strike rate), and his Ulster National contender couldn’t be heading north in better form.

Owned by the Seven Figures Partnership, which includes leading broadcaster and commentator Gary O’Brien, Wa Wa made a bright start to life with McLoughlin when winning on his first two starts since switching stables in late 2021.

However, the eight-year-old by Yeats only managed to hit the frame once in his next 10 starts and looked badly out of form before bouncing back to easily win a pair of handicap hurdles at Navan and Leopardstown this spring.

Victories

Those ready victories came off marks of 92 and 100 over hurdles, and he must defy a chasing mark of 121 this weekend, but that looks fully possible on the basis of his best form in this sphere. With Paddy O’Hanlon’s 5lb claim factored in, he also races off just 10st 5lb.

McLoughlin told The Irish Field: “The unknowns for him are the extended-three-and-a-half-mile trip, having never raced beyond three miles and two furlongs, and the ground [with 25mm of rain expected on Friday and Saturday].

“He’s been in great form, though, and did it nicely on his last couple of starts over hurdles. It’s an open handicap chase and you’d hope that he’ll be competitive if he manages to handle the new trip and ground.”